Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction Critic Reviews

The biggest flaws with AvP: Extinction are the lack of a rotating camera, the unit micromanagement required, and the fact that there are only 21 missions in the game with no multiplayer at all... I wasn't disappointed with the game, and I don't think fans of AvP would be either.

One major problem is the lack of strategy required at what initially appears to be a game ripe for strategy. A one-dimensional approach can be adopted and applied to almost any circumstance as you attempt to overwhelm your enemy.

A console-friendly RTS that delivers lots of tactical action without the headaches of ports like "Commandos 2."

A thoughtfully designed, complex, and pretty fun game to play. Alas, a dearth of supplemental features and some flimsy presentation drag down what could have been a more solid overall package.

APE is quite tactical, the control is good and it should keep fans interested, even with the fog-of-war, funnel levels, and pathfinding problems - a good RTS entry.

The game surfs on the well-executed difference among the Alien, Predator, and Marine gameplay styles, but the strategy lacks depth and defaults to the throw-piles-of-guys-at-the-enemy style of gameplay.

Since there are a number of cool Alien and Predator units that are fun to see and play, Extinction does have some redeeming value. However,...the lack of online support or multiplayer of any kind is unforgivable.

Let me get this straight: a real-time strategy game without a multiplayer mode? Sure, it's been done before, but come 'on, this is Xbox! They could have given gamers the option to link up two consoles and two TVs.

What makes Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction most painful on the eyes, though, are the drab and under detailed environments.

The game sinks in the perilous minefield that is RTS convention and its de rigueur level design.

Uninspired level design rounds out the package, with the designers relying far too much on impassable mountain ranges and forcing players to find roundabout routes to their targets.

Or, better yet, take advantage of the game's slightly flawed design and go Predator, slaughtering the weaker species.

The game simply doesn't play well with a controller. It looks and feels as if it were designed for a PC.

The alien infestation system is a great concept that suffers in its implementation. Conversely, the space marine controls are quite functional, but the story makes little use of the "Aliens" license. And the predator story is more of a "that would be cool" afterthought than a smart addition.

Thanks to good controls and a truly imaginative take on the AvP universe, Extinction turns out better than expected. You can tell the developers really loved the movies. It's just too bad they didn't take it far enough as a game, serving up a short campaign and failing to offer any extra modes.

Sadly, simply being a better console RTS does not mean it matches up to the great PC RTS games most gamers are accustomed to.

It's a decent offering for the Xbox but it's nothing compared to the great RTS games available for the PC.

The game mechanics are so badly crippled that it probably doesn't even deserve to be called a strategy game.

If you can forgive the fact that this isn’t a first-person shooter, the premise is good enough, but the execution tastes like xenomorphic acid on the tongue.